Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme Haut Medoc Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Caronne Ste. Gemme

Learn everything about Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme Haut Medoc with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme History, Overview

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme is one of the older estates in the Medoc. In fact, its history can be dated all the way to the mid-1600s.

The estate takes its name from a water source in the commune, Carona. Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme began to gain notice as a wine producer following the French Revolution.

At the turn of the 20th century, Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme became the property of the Borie family in 1900. The Borie family is better known for their numerous estates in the Left Bank including, Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou and Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste. Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme was owned by the Nony family until 2022. They sold the estate to Bernard Magrez who owns Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac Leognan as well as other vineyards in 2022.

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The vineyard of Caronne Ste. Gemme is planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. The 40-hectare, Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme is situated not far from the southwest corner of the St. Julien appellation close to Chateau Lagrange and not from Chateau Belgrave, Chateau Lanessan, and Chateau Camensac.

The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The terroir is gravel and sandstone-based soils. With its gentle slopes, the peak of their vines rises to 22 meters. The vines are on average 30 years of age. Harvesting is done using a combination of manual picking and machine harvesting.

To produce the wine of Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme, vinification takes place in a combination of stainless steel tanks and traditional cement vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat.

The wine is aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for 12 months. The production is close to 24,000 cases per vintage. There is a second wine, Les Viviers de Caronne. The family produces another wine, Chateau Labat, which is also located in the Haut Medoc appellation. Antoine Medeville is the consulting winemaker.

The best vintages of Chateau Caronne Ste Gemme are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2010 and 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme needs to be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme is usually better with at least 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Citran offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-10 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Caronne Ste. Gemme is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

Château Caronne Ste. Gemme Wine Tasting Notes

16 Vintages 60,619 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2021
84
Medium-bodied with chewy red fruits, the wine is on the oaky side, giving it roundness, but also dryness in the finish. This is probably the last vintage for this popular Haut-Medoc as it was recently purchased by Bernard Magrez and it will probably be annexed into La Tour Carnet. Drink from 2023-2029. 83-85

Medium-bodied with chewy red fruits, the wine is on the oaky side, giving it roundness, but also dryness in the finish. This is probably the last vintage for this popular Haut-Medoc as it was recently purchased by Bernard Magrez and it will probably be annexed into La Tour Carnet. Drink from 2023-2029. 83-85

1,880 Views   Tasted
2020
88
Dried herbs, tobacco leaf, cedar, and peppery currants are easy to spot in the perfume and on the palate. Medium-bodied, chewy and savory, the wine leaves you with in herb-infused, minty, red currant finish. Drink from 2024-2039.

Dried herbs, tobacco leaf, cedar, and peppery currants are easy to spot in the perfume and on the palate. Medium-bodied, chewy and savory, the wine leaves you with in herb-infused, minty, red currant finish. Drink from 2024-2039.

838 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, firm, chewy and with a strong savory accent to the crisp, red fruits on the palate, the wine leaves you with an herb-infused, minty, red currant finish. 85-87 Pts

Medium-bodied, firm, chewy and with a strong savory accent to the crisp, red fruits on the palate, the wine leaves you with an herb-infused, minty, red currant finish. 85-87 Pts

2,023 Views   Tasted
2019
89
Opening with espresso, smoke, cocoa and red pit fruits, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant and crisp, with an elevated note of savory herbs, espresso, olives and spice on the palate and in the finish. Cigar wrapper and red fruits combine on nose and palate with a good blast of tobacco-infused red fruits and a hint of chocolate in the medium-bodied, fruity, savory finish. Drink from 2022-2031.

Opening with espresso, smoke, cocoa and red pit fruits, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant and crisp, with an elevated note of savory herbs, espresso, olives and spice on the palate and in the finish. Cigar wrapper and red fruits combine on nose and palate with a good blast of tobacco-infused red fruits and a hint of chocolate in the medium-bodied, fruity, savory finish. Drink from 2022-2031.

1,220 Views   Tasted
Cigar wrapper and red fruits combine on nose and palate with a good blast of tobacco infused red fruits in the medium-bodied finish. 86-88 Pts

Cigar wrapper and red fruits combine on nose and palate with a good blast of tobacco infused red fruits in the medium-bodied finish. 86-88 Pts

3,515 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Better from the bottle than the barrel, the wine shows off its fresh, bright, juicy, red berry, earth and espresso hints easily. Medium-bodied, fresh, juicy red fruits with a hint of olives and blackberry seal the deal.

Better from the bottle than the barrel, the wine shows off its fresh, bright, juicy, red berry, earth and espresso hints easily. Medium-bodied, fresh, juicy red fruits with a hint of olives and blackberry seal the deal.

1,694 Views   Tasted
Fresh, crisp, crunchy, bright red fruits are easy to find in this classic, medium bodied, lean, earthy wine. Lovers of old-school, classic Bordeaux will like this a lot more than I did. 85-87 Pts

Fresh, crisp, crunchy, bright red fruits are easy to find in this classic, medium bodied, lean, earthy wine. Lovers of old-school, classic Bordeaux will like this a lot more than I did. 85-87 Pts

4,857 Views   Tasted
2017
86
Cranberry and cherry notes compete for space in a medium bodied, lean and classic wine. For those of you who enjoy the style, this is an early drinker.

Cranberry and cherry notes compete for space in a medium bodied, lean and classic wine. For those of you who enjoy the style, this is an early drinker.

2,434 Views   Tasted
2016
87
Leafy, tobacco, herb and ripe, bright red fruits are found here from start to finish in this medium bodied wine. Give it at least a few years to soft and round out and it should be a better

Leafy, tobacco, herb and ripe, bright red fruits are found here from start to finish in this medium bodied wine. Give it at least a few years to soft and round out and it should be a better

1,734 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, with lean to the bright, crunchy, red berry side of the style range, with a touch of espresso, tobacco and fresh, red fruits in the end note

Medium bodied, with lean to the bright, crunchy, red berry side of the style range, with a touch of espresso, tobacco and fresh, red fruits in the end note

3,699 Views   Tasted
2015
87
Old school styled, medium bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, red berries are at the core of this wine, leaving you with a splash of cranberry in the endnote. 86 - 88 Pts

Old school styled, medium bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, red berries are at the core of this wine, leaving you with a splash of cranberry in the endnote. 86 - 88 Pts

3,143 Views   Tasted
2014
86
Medium bodied, firm, fresh, bright, moderately tannic red berry oriented wine, which already offers hints of tobacco and earth.

Medium bodied, firm, fresh, bright, moderately tannic red berry oriented wine, which already offers hints of tobacco and earth.

2,856 Views   Tasted
2013
83
Cranberry and cherry compete in this sweet-versus-tart wine that has a strict personality and coffee bean accents. 82-84 Pts

Cranberry and cherry compete in this sweet-versus-tart wine that has a strict personality and coffee bean accents. 82-84 Pts

2,780 Views   Tasted
2012
82
Sharp, bright, herbaceous and tart, there is a crisp bite to the medium bodied, tart red fruit here.

Sharp, bright, herbaceous and tart, there is a crisp bite to the medium bodied, tart red fruit here.

2,382 Views   Tasted
2011
83
Lean, sharp, bright and with a strong green streak that accompanies its crisp red berries and tobacco leaf character. The wine is more interesting on the nose than the palate.

Lean, sharp, bright and with a strong green streak that accompanies its crisp red berries and tobacco leaf character. The wine is more interesting on the nose than the palate.

2,165 Views   Tasted
2010
87
There is a strong herbaceous quality to the dark fruits and rustic tannins that some tasters are going to like much more than others. The dusty, crisp, fruit in the finish is the best part of the experience. The wine was produced from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.

There is a strong herbaceous quality to the dark fruits and rustic tannins that some tasters are going to like much more than others. The dusty, crisp, fruit in the finish is the best part of the experience. The wine was produced from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.

3,881 Views   Tasted
2009
83
Medium bodied, with a licorice and cassis personality, the wine was simple and lacked distinction.

Medium bodied, with a licorice and cassis personality, the wine was simple and lacked distinction.

5,360 Views   Tasted
2008
82
Lean, simple. tart, medium bodied, bright, spicy wine with a crisp cranberry/strawberry finish.

Lean, simple. tart, medium bodied, bright, spicy wine with a crisp cranberry/strawberry finish.

3,260 Views   Tasted
2005
85
Easy going, simple, medium bodied wine, with a slightly rustic nature without faults, or virtues. Due to its low price and large production, the wine is quite popular.

Easy going, simple, medium bodied wine, with a slightly rustic nature without faults, or virtues. Due to its low price and large production, the wine is quite popular.

6,010 Views   Tasted
2004
80
Tough, tart and rustic, there was a greenness to the crisp, red fruits and cranberry finish.

Tough, tart and rustic, there was a greenness to the crisp, red fruits and cranberry finish.

4,888 Views   Tasted